Boston the King 233 



not convince Colonel Johnson that Boston was 

 of any account at all. 



But for a trial which took place down in Vir- 

 ginia one morning, Boston might have been 

 relegated to "bush racing," and Johnson, who 

 was the greatest active turfman of his day, might 

 never have had him. Johnson was at the Peters- 

 burg track to try a pair of horses. Belcher 

 begged him to permit Boston to take a sampling 

 gallop with them. Argyle and Mary Blunt were 

 the trial horses with Boston. Both of them 

 had already raced themselves into considerable 

 reputation. 



The two trial horses went away from Boston 

 just as they pleased, and he seemed to be unable 

 to keep within striking distance of them. 

 Belcher was so disgusted that he gave Boston 

 up, and turned away to escape the badinage of 

 Colonel Johnson and the other trainer, Arthur 

 Taylor. Argyle and Mary Blunt were running 

 a fast trial head and head, and Boston was trail- 

 ing far behind them when they turned into the 

 head of the stretch at the end of the last mile. 

 Then Boston did a most surprising thing; he 

 suddenly put his head into the bridle and set 

 himself to run. He showed such a marvellous 



